Back Injury from Car Accident: Legal Recourse for Victims
The force of a vehicle collision can cause permanent damage to the back in a number of ways. It’s important to know that if you’ve been injured in a crash that someone else caused, you have a right to receive compensation for your losses – even if doctors haven’t been able to pinpoint the injury that is causing your pain. The crash should never have happened in the first place, but now you’re left with the consequences. It isn’t right.
If you’re suffering from back pain or a back injury after a car accident, contact Gay Chacker & Ginsburg to find out how we can help. There is no risk or obligation. If you hire us to represent you, we’ll charge you no legal fees unless we recover compensation for your damages. Call us today at (215) 567-7955 for a free consultation.
Back and Neck Pain After a Car Accident
It is common to suffer from back and neck pain after any vehicle crash – even a fender bender. A collision is jarring, causing the body to whip around and sometimes trike the inside of the vehicle. Below are a few of the back and neck injuries that can cause short- and long-term pain and other problems.
- Spinal cord injury. An injury to the spinal cord can cause paralysis that affects all or part of the arms, legs, torso, and pelvic organs.
- Spinal disc injuries. A person can suffer a variety of injuries to spinal discs. Some include bulging, extrusion, sequestration, herniation, radiculopathy or pinched nerves, and others. These problems can occur up and down the spine or in one location, and they can cause debilitating pain and permanent physical damage.
- Spine fractures. Compression fractures can cause persistent pain and may require surgery to stabilize.
- Strains and sprains. This is a common neck injury resulting from a vehicle collision. Symptoms can range from headaches to problems concentrating and more. Depending on where on the back or neck the injury occurred, a person can suffer from permanent nerve damage.
- Whiplash refers to the quick and forceful back-and-forth whipping of the head and neck in a collision. It can result in short- and/or long-term trauma that may be difficult to cure.
- Vertebrae bone spurs. The impact of a vehicle crash can put pressure on the fragile bones in the spine, causing a response of excess bone growth.
These are just a few common neck and back injuries that can happen because of a vehicle collision. If the injuries do not cause paralysis or other permanent disability, victims may suffer long-term pain that can change the course of their lives.
Average Settlement for Car Accident Back and Neck Injury
In our decades of practice, injured victims and their families have often asked what they can expect with regard to a car accident neck injury settlement amount or back injury settlement amount. The truth is, it’s impossible to tell how much an individual’s case will be worth without first investigating the details of the incident and understanding the extent of the victim’s injuries. To give you an idea of what others have obtained in the past from their cases, below are a few neck and back injury settlements our firm has obtained for clients.
In one case, we obtained $1.8 million for a client who was the passenger in an SUV traveling in Philadelphia when another motorist made an inappropriate left turn and struck the vehicle. The crash led our client to suffer severe back injuries that prevent him from working and taking on daily tasks.
We also obtained $380,000 for a client whose car was struck by another driver who had pulled out of a gas station. Our client suffered sprains and strains to his back, neck, and shoulder as well as a concussion and hypertension. In another case, we obtained a settlement for a client who was struck head-on in a Philadelphia intersection when another motorist made an illegal left turn. Our client suffered from back injuries, a concussion, bruising, pain to her shoulder, sprained spinal ligaments, and wrist tingling.
Our attorneys also obtained a $99,500 insurance settlement for a client who was rear-ended and suffered a neck and back injury. As a result of the accident, our client missed 13 weeks of work and suffered a significant decrease in pay. The defendant initially offered our client $30,000, but we rejected the offer and settled the case for more than three times that amount.
As you can see, back and neck injury settlement amounts vary greatly. If you are suffering from neck or back pain from a car accident, our attorneys can guide you through the process of filing a claim. When you hire us, we will work hard to get financial recovery for you, whether that means settling out of court or going to trial. All the while, we’ll keep you informed on the status of your claim. We have obtained substantial money for drivers, passengers, and pedestrians who have been injured in car, truck, and motorcycle accidents. Our team practices in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and surrounding states.
Frequently Asked Questions: Car Accident-Related Back Injuries
Below are answers to some common questions about car accidents, related back injuries, and what victims can do to protect their legal rights.
What is the average settlement for car accident back injury?
The average insurance settlement for neck and back injury would not be a helpful number to provide, as the unique facts of your case will determine a possible settlement amount. Compensation for neck or back pain from a car accident in Pennsylvania and New Jersey can cover many areas, including:
- Medical expenses,
- Lost wages and benefits now and in the future,
- Pain and suffering,
- Loss of participation in family life,
- End-of-life expenses (if a loved one was struck and killed), and more.
Every case is different, so the type of compensation and how much you can recover will depend on the specific details involved. The best thing to do is to speak with an experienced lawyer for advice. Our firm offers free case evaluations to auto accident victims and their families.
Will my car insurance company cover my medical bills if I have back pain after my accident?
It’s difficult to say exactly how much your insurance company will offer you after an accident. However, insurance adjusters often try to minimize payouts, so undiagnosed back pain can be a difficult hurdle. The best thing to do is to contact an experienced personal injury attorney before speaking with your insurer. A lawyer can handle the conversations with the insurance company and work to maximize the amount of money you receive – so you can focus on moving forward with your life.
A had a preexisting back condition that my accident exacerbated. Can I still recover compensation?
If you suffered any harm because of a vehicle crash that someone else caused, you have the right to seek compensation for your medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other losses, known as “damages,” resulting from the accident. And if the crash exacerbated an existing injury, you are likely in debilitating pain. Still, the other side will likely try to argue that your pain was there before the accident and that you therefore do not deserve compensation (or as much compensation). Contacting an experienced personal injury lawyer can help protect your legal rights and prove that you deserve the maximum recovery possible.
Can a car accident cause back pain?
Any collision – even a minor one – can cause vehicle occupants to suffer back pain. These issues may clear up over time, or they can point to a serious injury. If you’ve been in a car accident, it’s critical to seek professional medical attention right away. A physician can perform the necessary scans to see if there is an underlying issue that requires treatment. Those medical records can also be helpful if you decide to pursue an injury claim.
Gay Chacker & Ginsburg has gained a powerful reputation by holding true to our founding mission for over half a century: to serve our clients with respect, honest legal advice, and outstanding case results. Our firm has handled thousands of auto accident claims for people who suffered a neck and/or back injury after car accident incidents – even minor crashes.
Contact Gay Chacker & Ginsburg to learn more about how we can help with your automobile accident case. There is no risk or obligation. We will charge you no legal fees unless we recover compensation for your damages. Call us today at 215-618-9968 for a free consultation to discuss the next steps.
